Coin counter cut-off and recycling apparatus

ABSTRACT

A series of coins, of randomly different denominations, is advanced along a path in controlled spaced relation. At successive stations along said path coins of respectively different predetermined denominations are counted and deflected from said path and accumulated in corresponding receivers. When any receiver has accumulated a predetermined number of coins, further coins of that denomination are deflected from the path, at that station, to a second receiver which recycles them back to a coin supply while the apparatus continues to operate to count and deflect coins of other denominations.

ties Patet ml lUiiQ Black COIN COUNTER CUT-OFF AND RECYCLING APPARATUS [75] Inventor: Thomas J. Black, Reston, Va. [73] Assignee: Werner F. Westerman, Falls Church, Va.

[22] Filed: June 14, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 152,693

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 13, 1971 Germany ..P 21 23 727.4

[52] US. Cl ..133/8, 53/59 [51] Int. Cl. ..G07d 9/00 [58] Field of Search ..133/3, 8; 53/254, 59

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Hecker et al ..133/3 R X 51 Feh.2,l973

5/1962 Huckins ..133/3 R X 3/1965 Chichester et al. ..l33/8 R X Primary Examiner-Stanley l-l. Tollberg [57] ABSTRACT A series of coins, of randomly different denominations, is advanced along a path in controlled spaced relation. At successive stations along said path coins of respectively different predetermined denominations are counted and deflected from said path and accumulated in corresponding receivers. When any receiver has accumulated a predetermined number of coins, further coins of that denomination are deflected from the path, at that station, to a second receiver which recycles them back to a coin supply while the apparatus continues to operate to count and deflect coins of other denominations.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEU FEBZO 1375 i l V l g nv VEN ro/e THOMAS J BLACK BY 6 rro/e/vsvs COHN COUNTER CIJT -OFIF AND RECYCLKNG APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE lNVlENTlION This invention is in the field of coin counting and sorting machines.

Mechanical apparatus for receiving, sorting and counting coins from a random supply thereof are known but such machines are usually limited to relatively low speeds of operation because of the manner in which the coins are handled and processed. Most such machines do not maintain the coins under precise control at all times and even though some have been able to count and sort coins of different denominations from a random supply, some portions of the operations left the coins in suspension or not under precise control of the apparatus, thus limiting the possible speed of operation.

A second serious problem in the design of high speed machines arises in regard to the sorting mechanism in which the coins are physically separated by denomination following spatial separation on a coin wheel or the like. Many low speed machines utilize a simple inclined rail for sorting purposes. The coins, on leaving the coin wheel, roll under gravity down the rail past a series of diverters which separate the coins by diameter into a series of chutes. As sorting rates increase, however, the speed of the coins on the rails is inadequate to permit sufficient spatial separation for sorting purposes. The speed of coins rolling freely on the rail is limited not only by functional forces, but also by electrostatic forces generated at higher speeds. (The later forces can actually hold a coin stationary on a steeply inclined rail.)

On some machines the coins leaving a coin wheel fall directly into slots behind the wheel, in which sorting is achieved. A major problem in these machines, particularly at higher speeds, is that jamming can result from two coins entering the sorting slot simultaneously.

When this occurs, major servicing of the machine is generally required. There is no question that an open rail sorting system provides a more simple trouble-free mechanism provided some positive means for driving the coins along the rail can be provided at high sorting rates.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention coins are removed from a random supply thereof and propelled along a predetermined path in uniformly spaced relation. At sequential stations along the path means are provided for separating and counting coins of respectively difierent denominations, even though the coins are moving along the path in random denominational arrangement. At each station means are provided for counting coins of a selected denomination and deflecting those coins into a receiver where they are accumulated. As soon as the number of coins accumulated at any station is equal to a preselected number, the counting and accumulation at that station is stopped but coins of that denomination are still deflected from the path at that same station and caused to be recycled back to the supply while the machine continues to count and accumulate coins of other denominations. This provides time to remove the accumulated and counted number of coins from that station and recondition the apparatus to resume counting and accumulation of a further number of coins, all while the machine continues to operate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is a highly schematic front elevational view of means at a counting and deflecting station according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the offset line 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT" In the drawings, numeral 2 indicates a rail having a tilted but generally upright back-plate a lower generally horizontal flange 6 and an upstanding short flange 8 spaced forwardly from the back-plate d. The flanges 6 and 8 thus define a trackway along which coins may roll while being held by gravity against the back-plate 4. An endless chain III is provided with evenly spaced forwardly extending lugs 12 movable along a continuous slot M in the back-plate i. The lugs 12 thus move coins, individually, along the rail 2.

Applicants copending application Ser. No. 155,983, filed June 23, 1971, describes apparatus for moving coins from a random supply thereof onto the rail 2 where the coins are engaged by the lugs 12 and caused to move along the rail 2 at relatively high speeds but in predetermined spaced relation and in random denominational arrangement. It is to be remembered that the coins being counted and sorted are taken from a bulk supply which may contain coins of all denominations.

FIG. 1 illustrates a single counting and sorting station adjacent the rail 2 and it is to be understood that further similar stations are provided downstream from the station illustrated. The station illustrated in FIG. 1, by way of example, counts and sorts the largest coins, for example, SO-cent coins.

At the station illustrated, there is provided a primary detector 16 and a secondary detector l8 spaced downstream from the primary detector. Each detector is preferably a photo-electric device wherein a light beam is intercepted by any coin as it moves along the rail 2. Between the detectors l6 and 18 there is provided a movable first deflector 2h mounted on the armature 22 of a solenoid 2 In its normal position the deflector 20 is held at an elevation, above flange (6, just below the top edge of the coins to be counted and deflected at that station. Downstream from the first deflector 20 is a second deflector 26 fixedly mounted on the back-plate 4 of rail 2 at the same elevation as the normal position of the first deflector 2th. The secondary detector K8 is between the deflectors 2t) and 26. A first receiver 2% is positioned outwardly of and below the rail 2 opposite the first deflector 20 and a second receiver 30 is positioned below and adjacent the rail 2 opposite the second deflector 26. The receiver 28 comprises a funnel-like member arranged to receive coins and direct the same into an accumulating bag 32. As stated, the deflectors 2d and 26 are arranged to deflect only the largest coins, that is, SO-cent pieces. All other coins will pass thereunder and the next station (not shown) will have its corresponding first and second deflectors at an elevation to deflect the next largest coin, for example, 25-cent coins, and so on.

As each coin passes the first detector 16, the latter generates a signal for the purpose of actuating a registering counter 34. However, the signal is not immediately applied to the counter but conditions a counting circuit for a predetermined length of time. Assuming the coin that has just passed the first detector 16 to be SO-cent coin, it will immediately thereafter be deflected by the first deflector 20 to fall off the rail 2 into the first receiver 28. The deflectors 20 and 26 are of the generally triangular configuration shown best in FIG. 3, and, as a coin is pushed along the rail 2, its upper edge will engage the forward sloping edge 36 of the first deflector 20 and the coin will be tilted outwardly as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2 to a position where it is unbalanced and will fall into the receiver 28 by gravity. The signal generated by the first detector 16 conditions a counting circuit element for a predetermined length of time, the length of time being that required for a coin which intercepted the first detector 16 to reach the position of the second detector 18. If the coin was a SO-cent piece, it will have been deflected into the receiver 28 by the time its lug 12 reaches the position of second detector 18 and the absence of a signal from the second detector actuates the counting circuit to cause a pulse to be delivered to the register 34 which counts one more coin.

Any coin intercepting the first detector 16 will cause production of the first signal previously referred to but if that coin is not a SO-cent piece, it will pass under the deflectors 20 and 26 and move on to the next station. In doing so, it intercepts the beam of the second detector 18 and conditions the counting circuit so that no count is registered on the counter 34. Thus, the counter 34 will register only SO-cent pieces which have been deflected into the first receiver 28.

When the total count registered on the counter 34 reaches a preselected number, for example, 100, the counter actuates solenoid 24 to lift the first deflector 20 upwardly to about the dotted line position shown in FIG. 2 wherein it is disabled from deflecting further coins into the receiver 28. Registers or counters having means for completing an external circuit or otherwise initiating a function upon achievement of a predetermined count are well known and need not be described in detail here. Any SO-cent pieces that come along the rail 2 while deflector 20 is in its upper position will move along the rail and intercept the beam of secondary detector 18 and thus prevent adding a further count in the register 34, the same as though it were a coin of smaller denomination. After passing the second detector 18, that 50-cent piece will engage the fixed deflector 26 and be deflected off the rail 2 into the second receiver 30. The second receiver is arranged to direct all coins received thereby onto the upper run of an endless conveyor belt 38 which carry coins thereon back to the supply hopper for the sorting machine previously referred to. By this means the counting machine continues to operate without interruption to count and accumulate coins of other denominations at subsequent stations even though no more 50-cent coins are being deflected into the bag 32.

The manner in which the counting circuit operates in response to the detectors 16 and 18 is fully disclosed and described in my copending application Ser. No. 152,692, filed June 14, 1971, and reference is made thereto for a more detailed description of the counting circuits. It is to be noted, however, that no coin is registered on the counter until it has been deflected and actually accumulated in the bag 32 and no additional coins can be deposited therein without resetting the apparatus. In many previous machines, coins were deflected from a similar rail but all coins of a given denomination were deflected at each station and counting thereof was effected while such coins were falling into a receiver. In such devices, the entire machine had to be stopped when a predetermined count was reached and to ensure that too many coins were not accumulated, it was necessary to stop before the required number had been deposited in the bag and the additional coins were placed therein by hand.

Numeral 40 schematically represents an indicator and control panel. When the preselected count has been registered on the counter 34 and the first deflector 20 moved upwardly to a disabled position, a signal lamp 42 is illuminated indicating that the required number of SO-cent pieces has been deposited in bag 32 and further SO-cent pieces are being recycled back to the supply. Even though the machine continues to operate to count and accumulate other coins, the operator may remove the bag 32 from receiver 28, place a new bag thereon, then actuate reset button 44, which functions to restore the first deflector 20 to its lower position and thus initiate another cycle of counting and accumulating other SO-cent pieces. The circuitry for lighting signal lamp 42 and for restoring deflector 20 to its lower position will be obvious to those skilled in the art and will not be described in detail but it is apparent that lowering of deflector 20 must occur shortly after a lug 12 passes it and before the coin pushed by the next lug 12 arrives. As shown, the control panel 40 has signal lights and reset buttons for all stations along the rail 2, at each of which a coin of different denomination'is counted and deflected.

Endless belt 38 preferably extends past all second receivers 30 so that it may receive recycled coins from all stations of the apparatus. As shown in FIG. 2, a second receiver 30 includes a laterally directed deflector portion 46 to direct coins received thereby onto the conveyor 38. While an endless belt type of conveyor 38 is illustrated, it is to be understood that any other suitable means may be employed for returning coins to a supply hopper.

While a single specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein, the same is merely illustrative of the principles involved and other embodiments may be resorted to within the scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In a coin handling apparatus having: means for advancing coins from a supply thereof, in random denominational arrangement, and in spaced relation along a predetermined path, means at a fixed position along said path for counting and deflecting coins of a selected denomination reaching said fixed position, and register means for registering the number of coins so counted; the improvement comprising:

first deflector means adjacent said counting means for deflecting coins of said selected denomination from said path;

a first receiver for receiving and accumulating coins deflected by said first deflector means;

second fixed deflector means adjacent said first deflector means and downstream therefrom, for deflecting coins of said selected denomination from said path;

a second receiver for receiving coins deflected from said path by said second deflector means;

disabling means responsive to achievement of a predetermined count by said register means for disabling said first deflector means from deflecting coins from said path; and

means for continuously directing coins from said second receiver back to said supply.

2. Coin handling apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first deflector means is a member movably mounted adjacent said path in position to engage a portion of each coin of said selected denomination, said disabling means including moving means for moving said first deflector means away from said path whereby coins of said selected denomination may move therepast without engaging the same.

3. Coin handling apparatus wherein the improvements defined by claim 1 are provided at a plurality of fixed positions spaced along said path, the said counting and deflecting means at successive positions being arranged to count and deflect coins of respectively different denominations.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said means for directing coins back to said supply comprises conveyor means extending past all said second receivers and arranged to deliver coins thereon to said supply, said second receivers being arranged to deposit on said conveyor coins deflected from said path by said second deflector means.

5. The method of counting and separating coins of difierent denominations, comprising the steps of:

advancing coins in random denominational arrangement along a predetermined path, in spaced relation;

counting coins of different denominations at respectively different denominational stations along said path;

registering the number of coins counted at each station and deflecting and accumulating coins so counted from said path to accumulate counted coins of each denomination at their respective stations;

terminating the counting and accumulation of coins at any one station when the registered count thereof reaches a preselected number while continuing to deflect further coins from said path at said station; and

directing said further coins deflected at said one station back to a supply of coins for further cycling while continuing counting and accumulation of coins of other denominations at other stations along said path.

6. The method of claim 5 including the further steps of removing said accumulation of coins from said one station and then resuming counting and accumulating coins at said one station. 

1. In a coin handling apparatus having: means for advancing coins from a supply thereof, in random denominational arrangement, and in spaced relation along a predetermined path, means at a fixed position along said path for counting and deflecting coins of a selected denomination reaching said fixed position, and register means for registering the number of coins so counted; the improvement comprising: first deflector means adjacent said counting means for deflecting coins of said selected denomination from said path; a first receiver for receiving and accumulating coins deflected by said first deflector means; second fixed deflector means adjacent said first deflector means and downstream therefrom, for deflecting coins of said selected denomination from said path; a second receiver for receiving coins deflected from said path by said second deflector means; disabling means responsive to achievement of a predetermined count by said register means for disabling said first deflector means from deflecting coins from said path; and means for continuously directing coins from said second receiver back to said supply.
 1. In a coin handling apparatus having: means for advancing coins from a supply thereof, in random denominational arrangement, and in spaced relation along a predetermined path, means at a fixed position along said path for counting and deflecting coins of a selected denomination reaching said fixed position, and register means for registering the number of coins so counted; the improvement comprising: first deflector means adjacent said counting means for deflecting coins of said selected denomination from said path; a first receiver for receiving and accumulating coins deflected by said first deflector means; second fixed deflector means adjacent said first deflector means and downstream therefrom, for deflecting coins of said selected denomination from said path; a second receiver for receiving coins deflected from said path by said second deflector means; disabling means responsive to achievement of a predetermined count by said register means for disabling said first deflector means from deflecting coins from said path; and means for continuously directing coins from said second receiver back to said supply.
 2. Coin handling apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first deflector means is a member movably mounted adjacent said path in position to engage a portion of each coin of said selected denomination, said disabling means including moving means for moving said first deflector means away from said path whereby coins of said selected denomination may move therepast without engaging the same.
 3. Coin handling apparatus wherein the improvements defined by claim 1 are provided at a plurality of fixed positions spaced along said path, the said counting and deflecting means at successive positions being arranged to count and deflect coins of respectively different denominations.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said means for directing coins back to said supply comprises conveyor means extending past all said second receivers and arranged to deliver coins thereon to said supply, said second receivers being arranged to deposit on said conveyor coins deflected from said patH by said second deflector means.
 5. The method of counting and separating coins of different denominations, comprising the steps of: advancing coins in random denominational arrangement along a predetermined path, in spaced relation; counting coins of different denominations at respectively different denominational stations along said path; registering the number of coins counted at each station and deflecting and accumulating coins so counted from said path to accumulate counted coins of each denomination at their respective stations; terminating the counting and accumulation of coins at any one station when the registered count thereof reaches a preselected number while continuing to deflect further coins from said path at said station; and directing said further coins deflected at said one station back to a supply of coins for further cycling while continuing counting and accumulation of coins of other denominations at other stations along said path. 